Happy Sunday Japanophiles, Herewith the 76th issue of the Hai Japan Newsletter — your Weekly Dose of Japan!

Today, we’re simply going through…

Anime of the day: Haikyu!

This is one of those feel-good sports anime.

You’ll like it if you enjoy hard work, team-building, and, of course, some funny moments. It’s a very inspiring anime which I wholly recommend.

My only criticism? I might be too used to really, really fast-paced anime. Like the type where there’s a compelling cliffhanger at the end of every episode (shout out to Gachiakuta). So, sometimes it did feel slow for me at times. But that shouldn’t turn you off until you try it yourselves.

Rating: 7/10

Topic: Conditional Forms in Japanese (〜たら, 〜ば, 〜と, 〜なら)

In Japanese, there are several ways to express "if". Each form has its own nuance and usage. You’ll hear them in conversations, songs, stories, and even instructions.

This issue will cover the four main conditional forms, how to use them naturally, and when to pick one over the other.

1. 〜たら: When / If (something happens)

Use this when: you want to talk about a future condition that will trigger a result. The first action must be complete before the second happens.

Structure:
Verb (Past plain form) + ら
i-adjective (past) + ら
na-adjective/noun + だったら

Examples:

• 雨が降ったら、出かけません。
  (Ame ga futtara, dekakemasen.)
  → If it rains, I won’t go out.

• 時間があったら、映画を見ましょう。
  (Jikan ga attara, eiga o mimashou.)
  → If we have time, let’s watch a movie.

📝 Grammar Note: Use た-form before attaching ら.

2. 〜ば: Formal “if”

Use this when: you want a slightly more polite or formal version of “if,” especially in writing or thoughtful speech. The result feels more logical.

Structure:
Verb (e-form) + ば
i-adjective: drop い + ければ
na-adjective/noun + なら (handled like 〜なら)

Examples:

• 行けばわかります。
  (Ikeba wakarimasu.)
  → If you go, you’ll understand.

• 安ければ買います。
  (Yasukereba kaimasu.)
  → If it’s cheap, I’ll buy it.

📝 Grammar Note: This form doesn’t need the first part to be completed before the second happens. More hypothetical.

3. 〜と: Whenever / If (automatic results)

Use this when: you’re talking about automatic or natural results (like rules, habits, or scientific facts).

Structure:
Verb (present plain) + と

Examples:

• 春になると、桜が咲きます。
  (Haru ni naru to, sakura ga sakimasu.)
  → When spring comes, cherry blossoms bloom.

• ボタンを押すと、ドアが開きます。
  (Botan o osu to, doa ga akimasu.)
  → If you press the button, the door opens.

📝 Grammar Note: Avoid using this for things you want to do. It's more about things that just happen.

4. 〜なら: If (you’re talking about something someone else mentioned)

Use this when: you're responding to something someone said or a topic that’s already been introduced.

Structure:
Noun + なら
Verb/Adjective + なら

Examples:

• 日本に行くなら、京都に行ってください。
  (Nihon ni iku nara, Kyōto ni itte kudasai.)
  → If you're going to Japan, make sure to go to Kyoto.

• 映画なら、もう見ました。
  (Eiga nara, mou mimashita.)
  → If it’s the movie, I’ve already seen it.

📝 Grammar Note: なら often means “If it’s that (thing/person)” — and you can use it to make suggestions or contrasts.

Quick Grammar Recap:

• 〜たら is for natural, everyday “when/if” situations where the first action must happen before the second.

• 〜ば is a bit more polite and makes the sentence sound more logical or hypothetical.

• 〜と shows results that happen automatically, repeatedly, or always.

• 〜なら is used when you’re responding to a topic someone already introduced, often for suggestions or clarifications.

Practice Story: “The Futuristic Ramen Robot”

ここは、未来の東京。
(Koko wa, mirai no Tōkyō.)
This is future Tokyo.

町にはラーメンロボットがたくさんいる。
(Machi ni wa rāmen robotto ga takusan iru.)
There are many ramen robots in the city.

このロボットは、注文を受けると、自動でラーメンを作る。
(Kono robotto wa, chūmon o ukeru to, jidō de rāmen o tsukuru.)
When it receives an order, it automatically makes ramen.

スープの温度が高ければ、お客さんは満足する。
(Sūpu no ondo ga takakereba, okyakusan wa manzoku suru.)
If the soup is hot, customers are satisfied.

でも、AIがバグったら？
(Demo, AI ga baguttara?)
But what if the AI glitches?

ラーメンじゃなくて、アイスクリームが出てくる！
(Rāmen janakute, aisukurīmu ga dete kuru!)
Instead of ramen, ice cream comes out!

だから、ラーメンを食べたいなら、人間の店に行ったほうがいいかも。
(Dakara, rāmen o tabetai nara, ningen no mise ni itta hō ga ii kamo.)
So if you want ramen, maybe it's better to go to a human-run shop.

Challenge

Can you rewrite this sentence using 〜たら, 〜ば, 〜と, and 〜なら?

“If it rains, I’ll stay home”